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The chateau of Chambord is located in the Loire valley, near Blois--less than a two hour drive from Fontainebleau. The site of the chateau has long been used by the royalty of France for hunting. The current chateau was started by King Francois the 1st. Francois was a builder of grand estates--he made Fountainebleau what it is today--and decorated his constructions with his personal emblem of the salamander. These emblems can be found in many places throughout Chambord.
Chambord was used by the royalty of France as a hunting lodge. The large surrounding forest was, and still is, home to wild boars, game fowl, and stags. Today, the lands are protected and elevated blinds provided for visitors to attempt to see the wildlife. Of course, they did not pick the day we visited to come out in the open. The children's definition of "quiet" may have had something to do with this... But, the blinds did give us a nice place to sit and have a picnic lunch.
The architecture of Chambord is dramatic and unique. It rises up in the middle of a grand forest like an over-decorated wedding cake topper. Walt Disney, eat your heart out.
Unlike some chateaus, the interior is arranged such that guests can come and visit, with each floor containing eight individual apartments, each connected to a central space. This is one of Lori's favorite chateaux, in part because the floorplan would work well with today's extended families wanting to vacation together.
One of the most striking aspects of the interior is the large, double helix, stairway that connects the floors. Two independent stairways spiral around each other, with seperate landings on each floor. Tradition has it that Leonardo DaVinci influenced the design of this staircase. Local lore says that the royalty enjoyed many games of illicit hide and seek on this stairway.
The chateau is currently owned and managed by the French government as a historic site. The current furnishings are a mixture of historic furniture and displays depicting the history of the hunt. This includes tapestries, pictures, and displays of antique weapons.
Here's some of the pictures from our visit.
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